Importance of taking Risks

Risk is Inevitable – and Important Risks – good and bad – are inevitable from birth. Yet, many of us haven’t given much thought to the ways in which risk unfolds. With a toddler’s first step, he is taking the risk of stepping out into the world – literally and figuratively. When a preschooler enters his new class of teachers and children for the first time, he is taking the risks inherent in separating from the only caretakers he’s known. Can he be okay on his own without Mommy there to keep him safe, he wonders? A shy first grader who raises her hand in class to ask a question takes the risk of appearing stupid in front of her peers. She risks feeling embarrassed, or inadequate. Yet her raised hand allows her to take a risk that leads to feelings of self-assertion and self-expression. A third grader who has difficulty with math, but attempts to do his math homework himself, is taking the risk of feeling frustrated and incompetent. When he sits with it and endures his feelings, and does the assignment to the best of his ability, he will learn that tolerating frustration leads to feelings of control and autonomy

Risk is part of development; thoughtful risk epitomizes the forward thrust of human growth and change. Risk-taking is a key developmental concept, and parents need to understand its significance as a teaching experience for children. Through parents’ modeling, nurturing and teaching good risk-taking skills, children will be better prepared to meet life’s challenges. So,

What is a Good Risk? A good risk is an action, activity or behavior that, precipitated by careful thought, involves a “leap” toward the edge of safety and danger.

Risktaking, like other skills, needs to be learned and practiced over time. We have identified four steps toward good risk taking.

These are:

1. Identify the risk – physical, emotional, social or intellectual, or a combination of factors.
2. Stay aware of the potential dangers, and benefits, of moving forward or staying still.
3. Think through one’s actions.
4. Evaluate one’s actions afterwards. If it is really important for our children to learn to take smart risks, what can we do to facilitate this behavior, and to minimize the taking of poor risks?